Supermini-MPVs were added to the Auto Express New Car Honours category list in 2006, and to date there has only ever been one winner. That’s because Nissan’s Note has just been voted Best Supermini MPV for an astonishing third year in a row. And joining it on the podium is the Nissan GT-R which picked up the Best Sports Car accolade.

The hatchback’s hat trick is a stunning endorsement of its ability to provide spacious and practical family transport in a market sector that has become ever more hotly contested since the Note was launched in 2006, a fact acknowledged by motoring and digital editor of Auto Express, Dan Strong: “Despite more and more manufacturers seeing the benefits of merging the best bits of a supermini and a people carrier, it’s Nissan’s Note which tops the class. It’s the perfect example of a car that’s been designed around the people who depend on it most.

“It has all the space a family needs, and is a breeze to drive, thanks to its light controls and easy manoeuvrability. Both petrol and diesel variants offer strong efficiency, too, helping to keep costs down. When Auto Express tested one for a year on our long-term fleet, it spent most of its time tackling the mean streets of London, yet it never missed a beat, and proved frugal to run.”

Offering supreme value-for-money and available in Visia, Acenta and Tekna grades, as well as the special edition Acenta S, Note’s choice of engines has recently been expanded to four with the addition of a punchy new 103 PS 1.5 dCi diesel offering combined consumption of 55.4 mpg. Prices of the Note range start from £10,245.

Nissan’s capacious family hatchback wasn’t the only Nissan success story at the Auto Express Awards, the awesome GT-R capturing the Best Sports Car accolade. It’s being hailed as one of the best handling, most powerful and above all most accessible supercars ever and Auto Express were in no doubt about its abilities: “Every so often, a new car comes along which is so far ahead of everything else that’s gone before, it sends shockwaves through the market. That’s what happened with the Nissan GT-R this year. It’s so good, it offers more than many models costing twice the price.”

“We are truly delighted with these awards, since they perfectly illustrate the strength in depth and diversity of the products we offer,” commented Paul Willcox, Managing Director, Nissan Motor (GB) Ltd. “The ability to deliver top class models in categories as disparate as B-segment MPVs and high performance sports cars clearly demonstrates the common thread running through our products – namely the use of advanced technology and creative design to deliver vehicles in tune with customers’ aspirations.

“That Note has beaten off an ever increasing number of competitors for a third time in a row is also testament to how right the car was from launch.”